2012

So this is my last post of 2012, I'm currently sat on a train on my way to Blithe Bridge to see one of my oldest friends for the new year.
This post isn't going to contain anything that will save you money or time, Just me saying thank you.
I started my little blog earlier this year because people really do have the wrong idea about students. We aren't all skint all the time, we don't all live off pizza and takeaways, sure some students do but for the majority students aren't too bad.
I was bought up to appreciate what I had and make the most of it and since becoming a student I have really had to put some of those lessons into practice and I wanted share those lessons with you so maybe some of you wont make the mistakes I have made (or have seen).
Looking to 2013 I really want to make this blog work. I want to make my scrimpy tips a regular feature and share with you some affordable meal ideas, I might drop vblogging for a bit and finally I want to really immerse myself in the blogging world.

Thankyou to everyone for your help and support this past year.
Happy New Year.

Keep it scrimpy.

Laura.

SALES! ASDA and Matalan

Sales are the perfect time for students to refresh the wardrobe. Today I had a quick look around the sales in George and Matalan. Both have produced some amazing bargains.

George ASDA

For my Non-British readers, ASDA is a supermarket here in the UK that has a clothes range called George. They supply affordable high quality clothing and it's always convenient to so some clothes shopping after the food shop.

Black vest shirt. This is quite long, covers the bum, I'm going be wearing it with my disco pants style leggings.

WAS £14 

NOW £7

I don't even know how to describe this. But it looks AMAZING on, it's a top with kinda bat wing sleeves, I shall post a photo on Instagram when I wear it. George now stock some ranges from designers, this one is Barbara Hulanicki

WAS £16

NOW £8

I got two of these, this burgundy one and a black one. I quite like these 'see through' tops at the moment, the duck tail back just covers the bum.

WAS £12

NOW £6

Now this... I LOVE this! I have had my eye on this baby since our new ASDA opened in Bangor. So when I saw it in the sales on thursday I was heartbroken that they didn't have my size, we went back today and they only had size 8 or 16. I asked a member of staff just in case they had a size 12 hiding in the back. Then a lovely woman recommended I try on the 16 anyway because George sizes can be a bit funny, so I slipped on the 16 and BOOM it fitted. I am now they very very proud owner of this...

WAS £12

NOW £6

They beauty of hitting the sales in supermarkets is that it isn't all about the clothes, I also picked up these...

This was suppose to be £10 (I think) but I snapped it up for just £2.50! 

80 different eye shadows for just £2.50! That's just 3p per eye shadow!

I picked up these for my Nan's Birthday at Easter, they were £5 and were down £2.50 

Matalan

Now I only picked up one thing from Matalan although GET YOURSELVES DOWN THERE! I was totally shocked at the till when I was allowed to use my student discount on sales items! 50% off PLUS another 10%? Yes please!

Checkered Shirt. I have been looking for one of these beauties for a while and at only £6 (without discount) I couldn't resist.

I really love shopping in matalan and unlike some other budget shops I find their clothes really do last. Matalan really does make fashion sense!

Have you nabbed any January sales bargains? 

Links

George-http://direct.asda.com/george/clothing/10,default,sc.html

Matalan-http://www.matalan.co.uk/

Last minute Christmas gift idea

Okay, so you have been very unorganized and haven't finished your Christmas shopping yet and now you're panicking. Well calm down, here is a really cheap and easy gift idea that can be tailored for almost anyone!

These word hearts or whatever shapes you fancy look really classy in a simple frame. 

All you have to do is choose your words, in the one above I have used friendship quotes. Start by typing all of your phrases into a word document. 

Here is a Harry Potter themed one I did. Make sure you have none of these annoying red lines anywhere, change fonts/colours then print-screen your work and using whatever software you use paste and save so you have a picture document.

Then using Word again use auto-shapes to insert the shape of your choice. The format the shape and fill it with the picture of your choice. You are then left with you message or quotes in the shape of your choice.

Frames can be picked up really cheaply from Poundland or charity shops. Then print out your creation and frame it.

Here are some examples of words/quotes I used.

Harry Potter Theme. 

 Disney Quotes.

Friendship quotes from Winnie the Pooh 

Keep it scrimpy
Laura.

Christmas Jobs

So it's December and for most students this marks the time of the year when the student loan is running dangerously low or even worse has totally gone. Although, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining.

Christmas is the great time to grab yourself some extra money.

Part time work is great for student and at Christmas time everywhere seems to be employing temporary staff, so back in November when I was home I trotted off to my local pub and asked for a job, to my surprise they said 'When can you start' .

So tonight, I'm off to start my new job.

For those people who have a job already before uni before you go, ask if you would be welcome back at Christmas. Most bars and restaurants usually welcome back staff as this saves training someone new.

My best advice would be to go in and ask around in about November but if you can't got home send out some CVs and get your parents to hand them out.

Keep it scrimpy
Laura.

Money Saving Tip #2 Clothes Horse

Clothes Horse, Clothes Airer whatever you want to call it.

Get one. They save you a fortune.

The one I have is from Argos it costs only £9.99

Here at Bangor it costs £1.70 to dry your clothes but in many unis it is more. 

It can easily hold a large load of washing, although hag towels on doors as they dry quicker that way.

This thing would have paid for itself in 6 washes.

It folds nicely away, mine lives under my desk.

Now off you trot and buy one! (See what I did there)

Shall you be getting one for uni? Or any other scrimpy tips? Share them here!

Keep it scrimpy
Laura.

Budget Beauty

I got some total bargains last week, I picked up these beauties. Those of you following me on twitter or

Instagram (@scrimpystudent for both)  you caught a sneak preview of one of these products today.

For what seems like forever I have been hunting for some bright red lipstick that had all day staying power. At last I have found it. In poundland. Now, I'm always on the lookout for make up in poundland , I have had many Rimmel London Nail polishes from the place. So when I saw the two Nivea Extreme Resist lip colours and gloss, I couldn't resist. I grabbed a number 10 Scarlet-Red and 22 Pretty Berry. The other one I picked up was a Rimmel London Moisture renew lip gloss in 105 Pink Benefit.

First for the Nivea lippy's. Now, they aren't quite a lip stick, nor are they a gloss, they live somewhere in between. You apply the colour first let it dry for a few mins then whack on the gloss. The tube says it lasts for up-to 10 hours, I was dubious but boy does this stuff know how to stick to your face! Today I went shopping in Manchester  applied it at 8am, got back to Bangor at roughly 10.30pm and although it had faded a lot, it was still hanging in there!

Check out the before and after shots! (Wearing the Scarlet-Red)

Freshly applied

It didn't last well!

The first test of the day came, on the coach to Manchester  all I did was take my snood off, but usually I get bits of fluff sticking to my face, glad to say, no fluffy lips, no red rim on my drinks bottle. However in Starbucks, it did have a mild stumble. Although to be fair I didn't have to touch it up after this, there was still enough colour left on the lips. I really didn't think it could last 10 hours, 5 or 6 maybe if I didn't eat, drink, touch my face or smooch anything, I was so wrong.

Now as much as I do really love this and it will be making a regular appearance in my life, I do have a few faults to pick. As much as this stuff clings to your lips, it also clings to your skin. Good luck getting it off if you slip while putting the colour coat on. Also, it's a bitch to get off unless you have something hot/warm and oily (Won Ton soup). The gloss effect doesn't last as long as the colour, two hours tops. Finally after over 12 hours it left my lips feeling tired, dry and in need of some TLC.

The other product I purchased was the Rimmel London Moisture renew lip gloss in 105 Pink Benefit. I have owned the same product but in 585 Cherry Boost for a while now and they really do look after your lips. They contain SPF 15 do add some protection from the sun (not that we have sun in Bangor). They aren't amazingly long lasting but they do the job. The colours are nice and really do boost moisture levels in those lips. I tend to use these for every day wear and save the Nivea ones for special occasions.

All these for a pound each. Thanks PoundLand! 

Keep it scrimpy.

Laura

Scrimpy Secret Santa

Another Christmas post? Yup, I am spoiling you all!

A group of us had a Christmas meal last night at our local Weatherspoons. I ate so much I think I'm still full. The meal cost £12.25 for three courses and it was all delicious We also threw in Secret Santa, for those of you who haven't heard of it, everyone's name is written on a piece of paper and then each person picks someone at random. I got my friend Tim. So here is my super-scrimpy secret Santa present. The total price creeps in at just a smidgen over a fiver.

I like to call this my winter warmer set.

The ingredients
Spice Jars x3 - Poundstretcher - 75p each or 2 for £1
Large Mug- PoundLand- £1 (or you could use one you already have)
Hot chocolate powder- (I already had Cadburys in my cupboard)
Marsh-mellows- Poundland- £1
Baileys truffle bar- Iceland OR poundland- £1
Liquor Chocolate- PoundLand-£1
Hand warmer- PoundLand- £1
Baileys/Irish Cream- Lidil £3.99

Now I know this comes in over a Fiver BUT you don't use all the Baileys, only about 50p worth, nor do you use the whole bag of marsh-mellows.

Presentation-
Put the Baileys, hot chocolate, and marsh-mellows into the spice jars.
Put the Baileys and hot chocolate jars into the mug, the bar of baileys chocolate fitted beautifully into the mug as well..

Wrap the rest of the gifts separably and place into a gift bag.

If the recipient of the gift is under 18, leave out the Baileys and replace the liquor chocolates with non-alcoholic ones, maybe even some home-made cookies! You could also include some cream, however if you so, make sure they open it before the cream goes off!

Feel free to share any of your Scrimpy Secret Santa ideas

Keep it scrimpy.
Laura.

Chalkboard Mirror Tutorial

Happy 1st December everyone! 

I'm sorry for my lack of posts recently, I have been snowed under with essays and work recently but I'm taking a quick break to show you this...

I know it says Happy Birthday on it but it would also make a great Christmas present. Even better it's really cheap and simple to do.

You need.

A mirror with a large chunky frame (I got these from a charity shop for 99p)
Blackboard paint (I started out with this from amazon)
Paint brushes
Chalk (99p for 50 pieces from the works)

Next...

Simply paint around the mirror with backboard paint, I found this needed two coats to cover.
Let it dry
Write nice things around the mirror (Try sharpening the chalk to make it easier to write with)
DONE!

So easy and it looks really good!

Have you made any Christmas presents? Feel free to share them!

Keep it scrimpy.
Laura.